This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
he will not see prosperity when it comes.
He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
(Jeremiah 17:5-8)
Let us pray today and thank our God that He makes us like trees by the water.
That He is the one who grounds us deep.
He is the one who makes our leaves green (and enables them to serve as healing! -Ezekiel 47:12)
He is the one that carries us through drought and He is the One that bears fruit through our lives.
Let's pray for the beloved children who are suffering injustices today.
Let's pray for God's people to rise up and speak on their behalf.
Let's thank God for the work He is doing in the world- and in our hearts.
Lord, we put our confidence in YOU today!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
October 13: God's Lavishing Love!
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As I've been trying to reflect on my time in Ethiopia, God keeps bringing to my heart the words "lavishing love". Many of you probably know the feeling...going into an unfamiliar place, experiencing things you've never experienced before, being changed in deep ways...and then being at a loss of words when someone asks how your time was. That is me- even after two weeks. I still can't put into words my first experience in Africa. But slowly, God is helping me work through it all. For now, I will share this with you.
Lavish: Sumptuously rich and elaborate. (To) bestow something in generous or extravagant quantities upon. Characterized by or produced with extravagance and profusion. Immoderate in giving or bestowing. Using or giving in great amounts.
The Bible talks about God's lavishing love to us- as shown through the sacrifice of His Son, through His adoption of us, through the gift of the Holy Spirit. In Ethiopia, I felt this lavishing love in very real and tangible ways. As we drove up to Tulo in Awassa, kids came out of nowhere to run after the van. Smiling, singing, wanting to see us. See us!? Why? Spending hours with them, I felt genunely loved. As the kids fought to be near us, to hold our hands, to hug us...we experienced God's heart for us as "His beloved". We know God's heart for these children is HUGE...but do we remember His heart for US ? We, too, are called "children of God". We, too, although once far off, have been brought near because of His extravagent, 'sumptiously rich and elaborate' love for us! Let's praise Him today together as we remember His lavishing love for each one of us. And let's ask Him to fill us so we can pour out that same love in immoderate and genrous ways!
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." (John 3:1)
love,
abby
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Children's HopeChest:
1. Our board meeting this weekend
2. Our trip next week to Swaziland
3. Our trip to South Africa in November
4. Our various launches for new sponsor communities that are launching soon (approx. 14)
5. For our US and in country staff worldwide who face constant attacks from the enemy
2. Our trip next week to Swaziland
3. Our trip to South Africa in November
4. Our various launches for new sponsor communities that are launching soon (approx. 14)
5. For our US and in country staff worldwide who face constant attacks from the enemy
Orphan Care Alliance:
1. Adoption Seminar on 10/16 and the families that will be coming for direction on their adoption journey.
2. Mentor Training on 10/23 - we have between 25-35 individuals that have a desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus through mentoring a foster care child aging out of the program or tutoring them.
3. The Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit VII is in Louisville in 5/11 - pray for the development of this conference and all involved.
4. Pray for the Pastors across the country that God would awaken them to the call/mandate on the Church to care for the fatherless.
5. For the directors of OCA and their families.
Amazima Ministries International
1. Adoption Seminar on 10/16 and the families that will be coming for direction on their adoption journey.
2. Mentor Training on 10/23 - we have between 25-35 individuals that have a desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus through mentoring a foster care child aging out of the program or tutoring them.
3. The Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit VII is in Louisville in 5/11 - pray for the development of this conference and all involved.
4. Pray for the Pastors across the country that God would awaken them to the call/mandate on the Church to care for the fatherless.
5. For the directors of OCA and their families.
Amazima Ministries International
Exec. Director, Katie Davis's daughter Scovia is so sick... no one can really figure out what it is. Please pray for healing!
Orphan Relief and Rescue (Liberia)
-Continued good health and safety for the children in the homes we are
working with.
working with.
-Strength,wisdom and creativity for our field team in Liberia working
with limited resources.
-Favor in fundraising and spreading the work about ORR around the states.
Indian Rescue Mission
with limited resources.
-Favor in fundraising and spreading the work about ORR around the states.
Indian Rescue Mission
They are conducting Investigations in a place in Karnataka State, India.
Pray that the team to be successful in gathering information through investigations.
Cinderella House
A couple from Colorado Springs is starting an aftercare home for girls coming out of domestic minor sex trafficking.
Please pray for the beginning stages, for wisdom, partners, and provision from God!
Please join us tomorrow for a time of prayer!
Wednesdays 9:30 AM (eastern) at CALL IN # : 760- 569- 9000 ID: 968101
AND
Wednesdays 1:35 PM (eastern) CALL IN # : 760- 569- 9000 ID: 968101
this one will specifically focus on prayer for those who are being trafficked into the sex trade.
Friday, October 8, 2010
sorry...a little late!
We have an ADVOCATE!
"My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous." (1 John 2:1) "If anyone does sin, we have an advocate." Yes, though we sin, we have Him still. All the sin that a believer ever did or can be allowed to commit cannot destroy his interest in the Lord Jesus Christ as his advocate. The name given here to our Lord is suggestive. "Jesus."
"My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous." (1 John 2:1) "If anyone does sin, we have an advocate." Yes, though we sin, we have Him still. All the sin that a believer ever did or can be allowed to commit cannot destroy his interest in the Lord Jesus Christ as his advocate. The name given here to our Lord is suggestive. "Jesus."
He is the kind of advocate we need, for Jesus is the name of one whose business and delight it is to save. "
You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." His sweetest name implies His success." (Charles Spurgeon/Allistair Begg)
As we strive to advocate for people around the world in great need, we must remember that we, too, need an advocate- and praise God that we have one! However embarressing to admit, sometimes I forget that I once lived in darkness. I once was stuck in sin. I once was without Jesus. I once had no hope. The only reason I have true hope, true forgiveness, true life, is because Jesus advocated for me. He stepped in on my behalf and paid the price for my rebellion. This realization should bring me to a place of deep gratitude and adoration of the One who gave all so I could be near Him. As Henri Nouwen writes, "to adore is to be drawn away from my own preoccupations into the presence of Jesus."
Let us adore Jesus together today. Let us come before the Advocate in pure gratitude of the great lengths He went for each of us- For the love He lavishes on us even when we didn't deserve it. Let us go forth to advocate for the beautiful people in need, in the strength and faith that Our Advocate goes before us always.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Children's Hopechest: Praise for the Ethiopia team's return- for the ways God moved in and through the team members. Please pray for the in-country staff of Ethiopia- for encouragement, protection and direction as they serve the children and communities around that country.
Orphan Relief and Rescue ; Elena and Debbie arrive back in Liberia on Friday. For now it is just thetwo of us holding down the fort here. Please pray for strength andwisdom and we find creative ways to continue to love on the kids here.Finances continue to be a need throughout the organization and wellare guarding against discouragement.
Colorado Human Services (orphans of our community in El Paso Co.): Pray for Gretchen. She is a 13 yr old girl who has been seperated from her siblings, and is the only child not adopted in her family of 6 siblings. She is a GREAT kid! She's in the advanced program at school, she's hilarious, she loves the Lord. But families that she is placed with don't know how to parent her.
Indian Rescue Mission (from Sept.28th) The team led investigations at places called Sangli and Miraj in Maharastra State, India. It was known that they have investigated 3 red light areas in the city and are on search of a 14 yr old girl who was seen a week back at the Miraj red light area. They are making their best efforts to trace her and as soon as she is found, we will make plans for the rescue.
Colorado Human Services (orphans of our community in El Paso Co.): Pray for Gretchen. She is a 13 yr old girl who has been seperated from her siblings, and is the only child not adopted in her family of 6 siblings. She is a GREAT kid! She's in the advanced program at school, she's hilarious, she loves the Lord. But families that she is placed with don't know how to parent her.
Indian Rescue Mission (from Sept.28th) The team led investigations at places called Sangli and Miraj in Maharastra State, India. It was known that they have investigated 3 red light areas in the city and are on search of a 14 yr old girl who was seen a week back at the Miraj red light area. They are making their best efforts to trace her and as soon as she is found, we will make plans for the rescue.
Please join every Wednesday for a time of prayer! I promise, you'll be blessed!
The conference call times and instructions are as follows:
Wednesdays 9:30 AM (eastern) at CALL IN # : 760- 569- 9000 ID: 968101 AND
Wednesdays 1:35 PM (eastern) CALL IN # : 760- 569- 9000 ID: 968101
this one will specifically focus on prayer for those who are being trafficked into the sex trade
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
the sapphire of His everlasting love.
Recently, I had a very dear friend and mentor say these wise words to me,
I'm not sure she knew how much those words would impact me.
Isn't is cool when God reminds you of something over and over again in different ways? And kind-of humbling as well...that sometimes we don't really hear HIM until the 20th time He's said the same thing!
On listening,
Lord, we give you our barrenness and the dark desolation of the many sons and daughters in our world today. We give you our fear of solitude and our lack of taking quality time with you. Help us to listen. Help us to hear. We give you our shame and ask you to change it into something beautiful. We ask you to give us a sense of our own poverty- so that we would be driven closer to the heart of Jesus. Great Healer, help us to sing in thankfulness to you and all you are and all you do.
Prayer Needs:
Children's Hopechest:
-staff training this week
-Ethiopia trip leaves Sunday
-for the orphans and workers serving them around the world
Indian Rescue Mission:
-Investigation team has made their initial contact with the lady who is running a sex racket in a city in Karnataka. Please pray that we can gain access in the coming days.
-Also we have received another information that there are 4-5 minor girls forced into prostitution in Beers Bars in a big city in Maharastra. ( the name of the city is not mentioned because of security reasons)
Please join us tomorrow for a time of prayer!
"THIS MAY BE JUST A SEASON OF WAITING AND LISTENING."
I'm not sure she knew how much those words would impact me.
Isn't is cool when God reminds you of something over and over again in different ways? And kind-of humbling as well...that sometimes we don't really hear HIM until the 20th time He's said the same thing!
On listening,
"Nouwen reminds us that 'solitude is the place of the great struggle and the great encounter'. Thuse we do need to face our fragile self. But we do so in the presence of the Loving Other. We do need to face our hurts. But we do so in the company with the Great Healer. We do need to face our waywardness. But we do so in the fellowship with the God who reconciles. Thus, while the place of solitude is the place of honesty, it is also the place of grace. It is not only the place of revelation; it is also the place of embrace." (c.Ringma)
As we listen to His voice today, let us remember those in the world right now who experience deep pain and sadness, overwhelming fear and loneliness, grief and despair. Let us pray the following for them (and for those of us who can relate to this in our time of life right now).
"What is my barrenness? It is the platform for His fruit-creating power. What is my desolation? It is the dark setting for the sapphire of His everlasting love. I will go to Him in my poverty, I will go in my helplessness, I will go in all my shame and backsliding; I will tell Him that I am still His child, and finding confidence in His faithful heart, even I, the barren one, will sing and cry aloud. Sing, believer, for it will cheer your own heart and the hearts of others who are desolate. Sing on, for although you are presently ashamed of being barren, you will be fruitful soon; now that God makes you hate to be without fruit He will soon cover you with clusters. The experience of our barrenness is painful, but the Lord's visits are delightful. A sense of our own poverty drives us to Christ, and that is where we need to be, for in Him our fruit is found."(truth for life: Charles Spurgeon/Allistair Begg)
Lord, we give you our barrenness and the dark desolation of the many sons and daughters in our world today. We give you our fear of solitude and our lack of taking quality time with you. Help us to listen. Help us to hear. We give you our shame and ask you to change it into something beautiful. We ask you to give us a sense of our own poverty- so that we would be driven closer to the heart of Jesus. Great Healer, help us to sing in thankfulness to you and all you are and all you do.
Prayer Needs:
Children's Hopechest:
-staff training this week
-Ethiopia trip leaves Sunday
-for the orphans and workers serving them around the world
Indian Rescue Mission:
-Investigation team has made their initial contact with the lady who is running a sex racket in a city in Karnataka. Please pray that we can gain access in the coming days.
-Also we have received another information that there are 4-5 minor girls forced into prostitution in Beers Bars in a big city in Maharastra. ( the name of the city is not mentioned because of security reasons)
Please join us tomorrow for a time of prayer!
The conference call times and instructions are as follows:
Wednesdays 9:30 AM (eastern) at CALL IN # : 760- 569- 9000 ID: 968101
AND
Wednesdays 1:35 PM (eastern) CALL IN # : 760- 569- 9000 ID: 968101
this one will specifically focus on prayer for those who are being trafficked into the sex trade.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
iFast 9/9/10
Hello Friends.
Below is the iFast 58 prayer info. Please email me with any questions!
To learn more about the iFast 58 beginnings, Go HERE!
He makes beauty out of ashes.
Sometimes all we see is dust. Ashes and dust.
The pain and brokenness in our world can sometimes overwhelm us to the point of shedding tears, the point of despair, and crying out, "Why, God?" As I've confronted some of this in my own life, God has challenged me and brought me back over and over to His promise that He makes beauty out of ashes (Isaiah 61:3). He makes beautiful things out of dust. Sunday I sang this song with a number of other people in church. It was good to read, good to hear, good to sing it loud- to proclaim it as truth- and be reminded of God's faithful promises He weaves throughout Scripture and throughout our lives.
"All this pain. I wonder if I’ll ever find my way.
I wonder if my life could really change at all.
All this earth. Could all that is lost ever be found.
Could a garden come up from this ground at all.
You make beautiful things.
You make beautiful things out of the dust.
You make beautiful things.
You make beautiful things out of us.All around.
Hope is springing up from this old ground.
Out of chaos life is being found in You
You make me new, You are making me new.
('Beautiful Things' by Gungor. You can listen to the song HERE.)
Maybe you can relate to these words. Maybe you, too, have been seeing a lot of dust. If so, be reminded: "He makes beautiful things out of dust. He makes beautiful things out of us". To hold on to His promises, to believe that what He says is true, we must have faith. "Faith", as Oswald Chambers puts it, "is robust vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. You can not see Him just now, you can not understand what He is doing, but you know Him. Faith is the heroic effort of your life; you fling yourself in reckless confidence on God. God has ventured all in Jesus Christ to save us, now He wants us to venture our all in abandoned confidence in Him."
Also, remember the words of the Psalmist, "When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God" (Psalm 13:16-17).
We can not carry the weight...it becomes oppressive to us until we enter into His sanctuary.
PRAYER NEEDS:
Asha Mission in India-Health for all children (one boy recovering from typhoid fever and a few children with high fevers...typical with climate change here)-Eternal fruit in the hearts of children (responsiveness to the H*ly Sp*rit-Praise: children growth in prayer...initiating prayer times when child sick, etc-Safe travels for Saji (leader of home who is in S.India visiting family)-Wisdom and discernment in leadership-Specific children: Varun, 4 yrs old, and Viveck, 6 yrs, both new to Asha. Varun and Viveck are brothers, from a local leper colony. This is their first time experiencing such structure and discipline, as well as love. They are having a hard time adjusting and responding. Small instances of disobedience, theft are hard to know how to respond to. Please pray for love and discernment for us as leaders over them and for a softening of their hearts by the HS. Three street girls at train station who we were going to look for to bring into Asha...Kanjell, Sanu, and Pooja. Needle in a haystack kinda search...but we are trusting in Him who left 99 behind for 1.
Help End Local Poverty : In Haiti as we speak. Pray for a fruitful trip! (Chris Marlow)
Lemonade Int'l- God's protection and guidance as I travel to Guatemala tomorrow. I will be there for a week working with our team on the ground. Primarily we will be working on budgeting for 2011 and planning for hosting teams next year- While I am there we will also be exploring new space for our vocational training center and for our "Safe House" that will begin taking in neglected and abandoned children in 2011. Please pray that we are led to the right places for these vital programs.- Wisdom and protection for our Guatemala team as we seek God regarding expanding our work to a new (and the most dangerous) area of La Limonada- For the young men (current and former gang members) in our vocational training program. They have committed their hearts to following Jesus, but the pull from their past lives is strong. Pray that those ties would be broken so they will live in freedom from the bondage of violence and drugs.
Indian Rescue Mission : Please pray for IRM Investigations at Karnataka. The team is trying to get to a brothel and they are denied access. We are trying our best to make the initial contact and get entry. Please pray that we will gain access to this brothel and rescue the girls in prostitution.
Children's HopeChest-Pray for our staff in the US as we go through major transition-Pray for our Uganda/Swaziland partners conference at the end of the month-Pray for the Ethiopia mission/vision trip.-Pray for Tom Davis as he travels internationally.-Pray against attacks at every level.-Pray for our ministry in South Africa - we need partners ASAP
Join us tomorrow morning first thing for a time of corporate prayer. I promise, you'll be blessed! The conference call times and instructions are as follows:
Wednesdays 9:30 AM (eastern) at CALL IN # : 760- 569- 9000 ID: 968101
Wednesdays 1:35 PM (eastern) CALL IN # : 760- 569- 9000 ID: 968101
*PLEASE NOTE, TIME IS 1:35pm now
this one will specifically focus on prayer for those who are being trafficked into the sex trade.
Below is the iFast 58 prayer info. Please email me with any questions!
To learn more about the iFast 58 beginnings, Go HERE!
He makes beauty out of ashes.
Sometimes all we see is dust. Ashes and dust.
The pain and brokenness in our world can sometimes overwhelm us to the point of shedding tears, the point of despair, and crying out, "Why, God?" As I've confronted some of this in my own life, God has challenged me and brought me back over and over to His promise that He makes beauty out of ashes (Isaiah 61:3). He makes beautiful things out of dust. Sunday I sang this song with a number of other people in church. It was good to read, good to hear, good to sing it loud- to proclaim it as truth- and be reminded of God's faithful promises He weaves throughout Scripture and throughout our lives.
"All this pain. I wonder if I’ll ever find my way.
I wonder if my life could really change at all.
All this earth. Could all that is lost ever be found.
Could a garden come up from this ground at all.
You make beautiful things.
You make beautiful things out of the dust.
You make beautiful things.
You make beautiful things out of us.All around.
Hope is springing up from this old ground.
Out of chaos life is being found in You
You make me new, You are making me new.
('Beautiful Things' by Gungor. You can listen to the song HERE.)
Maybe you can relate to these words. Maybe you, too, have been seeing a lot of dust. If so, be reminded: "He makes beautiful things out of dust. He makes beautiful things out of us". To hold on to His promises, to believe that what He says is true, we must have faith. "Faith", as Oswald Chambers puts it, "is robust vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. You can not see Him just now, you can not understand what He is doing, but you know Him. Faith is the heroic effort of your life; you fling yourself in reckless confidence on God. God has ventured all in Jesus Christ to save us, now He wants us to venture our all in abandoned confidence in Him."
Also, remember the words of the Psalmist, "When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God" (Psalm 13:16-17).
We can not carry the weight...it becomes oppressive to us until we enter into His sanctuary.
PRAYER NEEDS:
Asha Mission in India-Health for all children (one boy recovering from typhoid fever and a few children with high fevers...typical with climate change here)-Eternal fruit in the hearts of children (responsiveness to the H*ly Sp*rit-Praise: children growth in prayer...initiating prayer times when child sick, etc-Safe travels for Saji (leader of home who is in S.India visiting family)-Wisdom and discernment in leadership-Specific children: Varun, 4 yrs old, and Viveck, 6 yrs, both new to Asha. Varun and Viveck are brothers, from a local leper colony. This is their first time experiencing such structure and discipline, as well as love. They are having a hard time adjusting and responding. Small instances of disobedience, theft are hard to know how to respond to. Please pray for love and discernment for us as leaders over them and for a softening of their hearts by the HS. Three street girls at train station who we were going to look for to bring into Asha...Kanjell, Sanu, and Pooja. Needle in a haystack kinda search...but we are trusting in Him who left 99 behind for 1.
Help End Local Poverty : In Haiti as we speak. Pray for a fruitful trip! (Chris Marlow)
Lemonade Int'l- God's protection and guidance as I travel to Guatemala tomorrow. I will be there for a week working with our team on the ground. Primarily we will be working on budgeting for 2011 and planning for hosting teams next year- While I am there we will also be exploring new space for our vocational training center and for our "Safe House" that will begin taking in neglected and abandoned children in 2011. Please pray that we are led to the right places for these vital programs.- Wisdom and protection for our Guatemala team as we seek God regarding expanding our work to a new (and the most dangerous) area of La Limonada- For the young men (current and former gang members) in our vocational training program. They have committed their hearts to following Jesus, but the pull from their past lives is strong. Pray that those ties would be broken so they will live in freedom from the bondage of violence and drugs.
Indian Rescue Mission : Please pray for IRM Investigations at Karnataka. The team is trying to get to a brothel and they are denied access. We are trying our best to make the initial contact and get entry. Please pray that we will gain access to this brothel and rescue the girls in prostitution.
Children's HopeChest-Pray for our staff in the US as we go through major transition-Pray for our Uganda/Swaziland partners conference at the end of the month-Pray for the Ethiopia mission/vision trip.-Pray for Tom Davis as he travels internationally.-Pray against attacks at every level.-Pray for our ministry in South Africa - we need partners ASAP
Join us tomorrow morning first thing for a time of corporate prayer. I promise, you'll be blessed! The conference call times and instructions are as follows:
Wednesdays 9:30 AM (eastern) at CALL IN # : 760- 569- 9000 ID: 968101
Wednesdays 1:35 PM (eastern) CALL IN # : 760- 569- 9000 ID: 968101
*PLEASE NOTE, TIME IS 1:35pm now
this one will specifically focus on prayer for those who are being trafficked into the sex trade.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Human Trafficking: What you can do about it.
Start digging trenches.
If someone were to consider getting invovled in this issue of:
fighting injustice
speaking up for the oppressed
caring for the orphan
abolishing slavery
standing in the gap
taking a stand...
I'd like to come up with a list (an ongoing list) of ways we can be involved.
I've been hearing lately that although this issue seems TOO BIG, we can still make a difference. Small things matter. Telling one person about the issue of human trafficking matters.
I would love any of you who may come across this blog to post your own ideas- ways to make a difference in the lives (or even just ONE life) of the people suffering in slavery today.
This will hopefully serve as a resource. There are many great organizations out there fighting injustices and the numbers are growing (praise God!).
If someone were to consider getting invovled in this issue of:
fighting injustice
speaking up for the oppressed
caring for the orphan
abolishing slavery
standing in the gap
taking a stand...
I'd like to come up with a list (an ongoing list) of ways we can be involved.
I've been hearing lately that although this issue seems TOO BIG, we can still make a difference. Small things matter. Telling one person about the issue of human trafficking matters.
I would love any of you who may come across this blog to post your own ideas- ways to make a difference in the lives (or even just ONE life) of the people suffering in slavery today.
This will hopefully serve as a resource. There are many great organizations out there fighting injustices and the numbers are growing (praise God!).
The following are some places you may want to go to check out what YOU can do.
Learn the facts, how to identify victims: HumanTrafficking.org
Know who to call when you see it: National Human Trafficking Resource Center
Learn about policy, write legislators : Action Center: Polaris Project
Be a conscience consumer: Free to Work: NFS, Yobel Market, Better World Shopper, Made by Survivors, Sak Saum, NightLight
Who are you? Take Action: Not For Sale Campaign
Start running for a purpose: Tread on Trafficking: LOVE 146
Finacially Support an organization: Not For Sale, iEmpathize, International Justice Mission, Polaris Project, Stop Child Trafficking Now, StreetlightPHX, GEMS, Gracehaven House
Read up!:
Learn the facts, how to identify victims: HumanTrafficking.org
Know who to call when you see it: National Human Trafficking Resource Center
Learn about policy, write legislators : Action Center: Polaris Project
Be a conscience consumer: Free to Work: NFS, Yobel Market, Better World Shopper, Made by Survivors, Sak Saum, NightLight
Who are you? Take Action: Not For Sale Campaign
Start running for a purpose: Tread on Trafficking: LOVE 146
Finacially Support an organization: Not For Sale, iEmpathize, International Justice Mission, Polaris Project, Stop Child Trafficking Now, StreetlightPHX, GEMS, Gracehaven House
Read up!:
Bales, Kevin. Disposable People
Haugen, Gary. The Good News about Injustice
Tell others: use facebook, twitter, blogs, have a house party and show a film, anything you can- to get the word out!
Some other lists:
24 things you can do to fight human trafficking
What can I do to fight human trafficking?
one blogger's list
more resources:
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
some wise words...
I came across THIS blog today and read the following post. I just felt the need to share it- and save it for myself as a continued reminder. "I want to spend myself...with reckless abandon..." Isaiah 58 speaks to this. This is what I want. And I continue to fight for it while struggling along the way, knowing that God has the power and love to carry me.
In Rachel's words:
In Rachel's words:
I liken my first taste of Africa and my processing of it these last few months to someone who is going through the five stages of grief. I honestly think while I was there, I was in a state of shock. Being slightly numb is about the only way I could keep from weeping at every moment. I was carried along by the rhythm and flow of life in Ethiopia—the sights, and sounds, and smells.
But I didn’t know how to feel. I was overwhelmed by the need and my lack of ability to do anything about it. And I certainly didn’t know how to reconcile everything I was seeing with my life back in America. Which led me to anger. At injustice. At rich, spoiled Americans. At myself. Some justified anger, sure, but mostly my anger was misdirected. I wanted someone to blame. Surely someone was responsible for all this death and sickness and disparity, and so it must be all those people who don’t know, who don’t care, who don’t do anything. If they would just listen. If they would just care. I was ready to point my finger at anyone and everyone. And, of course, at myself. Because Africa, like a magnifying mirror, reveals more of yourself than you really want to see. Things you hide well in a land of prosperity--like selfishness, laziness, greed, arrogance-- get exposed in a land of want.
When you see a woman who has nothing use her meager supply of water and injera to serve you tea-- you can’t help but think of how often you’ve opened your overflowing pantry and sighed that there’s just nothing to fix for dinner. When you meet a man who walks the 3 miles back and forth to work, works 12 hour days, 7 days a week, all for about $2 a day, and he counts himself as blessed—you can’t help but think of how often you’ve complained you needed “me time” after a day “stuck” in your comfy house homeschooling your well-fed kids and folding enough laundry to clothe an army. When you give a child a piece of gum, and you look back to see them sharing it with 6 other children around them--you can’t help but think of overflowing Easter baskets and Christmas stockings stuffed full of goodies. And you feel fat. Regardless how much you weigh, you just feel like a soft, flabby glutton.
And so I entered the stage of bargaining. OK, God, I can still live in my house as long as I speak up for orphans and bring one home to live in it. I can still have 25 pairs of shoes as long as a couple of them are TOMS. I can still spend hours online doing nothing productive, as long as I occasionally post something thought provoking on facebook. I can still own way more than I need, as long as I donate some of the stuff I don’t really want anymore to Goodwill. But that leads to depression. Because you can never really reconcile owning anything with having given enough. I think of the story where the man came to Jesus and said, ok, I’m ready to follow you, and Jesus said, only one more thing: go sell everything you have and give it to the poor. The man walked away sad. He could not do it. His heart was not willing.
While I certainly believe it’s ok to own things, I can never again rest in a place of, ok, I’ve given enough, I’m good now. It will never be enough. And that can be deeply unsatisfying for someone who wants a simple black & white way to deal with my abundance. It just isn’t simple, people.And I am finally accepting that. There is no easy answer. Really, I’m finding we here in America have a lot more in common with my new friends in Ethiopia than I originally thought.
Our countries, yes, different indeed. But we are all people, created in God’s image, and in desperate need of the gospel. And redemption. What Africa wears on the outside, laid bare for all to see, we hide underneath layers in America. They wear physical disease, hunger, poverty, and need. Here, our layers of “stuff” hide emptiness, brokenness, despair, and a hunger that is never satisfied deep within our hearts. Their need is easier to identify, but ours is still there.
Underneath it all are human beings with gaping wounds and fatal bleeding. We need a remedy. We need to be rescued. And with my acceptance comes hope. I believe in a Remedy. I believe in a Rescuer. I serve a King who loves Africans and Americans. I believe He will use me, if I will daily seek to obey His leading in my life. I will not prescribe to you what you need to do, and what that will look like for you.
I will not pretend there is an easy solution or that one need in one country is any greater than another need in another country. But for me, I cannot forget what I have seen, and I am now responsible for it. Under the veil of earthly things is a spiritual reality, one we sense when we close our eyes and stand still long enough to feel. We were meant to live for so much more than the American dream.
And so I will not doze off in the sleepy shire, I will engage in the battle. I want blisters on my hands and fatigue deep in my bones and scars on my heart from all I’ve seen and experienced---because too much is at stake. Lives are at stake. Physical and spiritual. I don’t want to cling tightly to anything, save Jesus. I want to spend myself—my life, my time, my resources—with reckless abandon. So that one day, when I stand before Him, I have nothing left. Nothing wasted. Nothing squandered.
I used to be anti-short-term mission trips. I just didn’t see the need to spend thousands of dollars to go somewhere for a few days where you would barely scratch the surface of the need but potentially leave with some sort of self-righteous satisfaction that you at least “did something”, returning to your life of complacency the other 350 days of the year. It seemed to me a bad use of resources that could be better used in the hands of someone who worked there long term as well as a hindrance to seeing the daily mission we are called to here.
But I have changed my mind. Go. Let the two worlds that are America and Africa collide in front of you. Spend the money, because in God’s economy, it’s a drop in the bucket. Like the woman who poured the perfume on the feet of Jesus, offer what seems excessive. When I asked an Ethiopian pastor who ran a local orphanage what I should tell my friends back at home, he said, "Tell them to come. Come and see. It means so much that you would get on a plane, leave your families behind, and come be with us and spend time with us.” Why would that surprise us? After all, we were created for community. It is the greatest gift we can give as we seek to share Jesus.
So go and see. Serve. Share. But don’t wait to engage in the battle until your feet hit African soil. Start today. Start here. Because too much is at stake.Join me in this conflicted state, where my sin and my obedience wrestle daily. Choose to live with eyes open. Stop spectating. Suit up, and get on the field, where you strive for the goal but often meet resistance and sometimes fail. It is not funner. It's harder. At times it feels like a burden. But it is what is true. What is real. And it is worth it, because it is where Jesus resides.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
